Furor over Rich Hill's 'gutless' comment dying down

Cubs left-hander's comments about Pierzynski are all but forgotten as the left-hander takes win against Sox on Saturday.

Nick Firchau

The most familiar Cubs face from last year’s brawl between Michael Barrett and A.J. Pierzynski is gone, but Rich Hill remains.

And judging by the way the Cubs left-hander pitched in his team’s 2-1 win over the White Sox on Saturday at U.S. Cellular Field, he won’t be headed down the same path he took last year.

“I feel like the questions are falling off a little bit. The fire is dying down day by day,” Hill said of inquiries regarding his being outspoken in making comments about Pierzynski, and Hill’s subsequent demotion to Triple-A Iowa last year. “That’s all over with now. Whatever was said last year and going into this year, that’s over with. I was excited for the chance to pitch here, and it gave me a chance to redeem myself after pitching so poorly against these guys last year.”

Hill drew criticism from both Sox manager Ozzie Guillen and former Cubs skipper Dusty Baker after the May 21, 2006, game against the Sox, but not for the way he pitched.

He faced the fire for comments made after the now-infamous home-plate collision and brawl between Pierzynski and Barrett, who was traded to San Diego on Wednesday.

Though Hill later offered a sober apology for comments he admitted were made “in the heat of the moment,” Hill dubbed Pierzynski’s play “gutless” and quickly drew heat from the usually soft-spoken Baker for being too outspoken on the issue.

Guillen’s tirade that followed included a suggestion that Hill should “shut up and pitch before he gets sent down.”

On Saturday, Hill stood eerily close to the same spot in the visitor’s clubhouse where he made his “gutless” comment, but he wasn’t answering questions about any mistakes he made with his mouth or arm.

Instead, Hill spoke of his first solid outing in his last three starts. He allowed just one run on six hits in 5 2/3 innings in the Cubs’ fourth win over the Sox in five games this season.

“The first two innings were a little shaky, and I wasn’t pitching like myself,” said Hill, who struck out six and walked two. “But I went back out there and I started attacking. I just wanted to stay aggressive.”

The performance put to bed any concerns about his previous outing, a short-lived start against the San Diego Padres on June 17 in which he was hammered for five runs over just three innings and 52 pitches.

Hill admitted he’s still working on earning back respect after his outspokenness, especially from Guillen and the Sox.

“The respect comes with time and with proving yourself time and time again,” Hill said. “Good players and great players come around, and they earn respect by putting up the numbers. Let what you do on the field speak for itself.”

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